The top two seeds in the AFC are set, and all playoff slots are filled except one. In the NFC, seeds are up for grabs, but all wildcard teams are set, while only one division winner has been determined. Jockeying for playoff position affected the Power Rankings:
Power Rankings [Last week's rank]
1. DETROIT LIONS (14-2) [1]
2. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) [2]
3. Minnesota Vikings (14-2) [3]
4. Buffalo Bills (13-3) [4]
5. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) [6]
6. Baltimore Ravens (11-5) [7]
7. Green Bay Packers (11-5) [5]
8. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) [11]
9. Washington Commanders (11-5) [9]
10. Tampa Bay Bucs (9-7) [12]
11. Denver Broncos (9-7) [8]
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) [10]
13. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) [14]
14. Los Angeles Rams (10-6) [16]
15. Seattle Seahawks (9-7) [15]
16. Miami Dolphins (8-8) [19]
17. Houston Texans (9-7) [13]
Divisional Power Rankings [Last week's rank]
1. NFC NORTH [1]
2. AFC West [2]
3. NFC West [2]
4. AFC North [4]
5. NFC East [5]
6. AFC East [6]
7. NFC South [7]
8. AFC South [8]
The key to the games in this final week is what teams will rest starters for the playoffs. That is not likely in the NFC, where important seeds are still up for grabs. Even among the wildcard teams, who will be on the road, they want to avoid being the seventh seed, and having to face the second best team in the NFC North.
Saturday games
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens : This game will clinch the division for the Ravens. They have had great success against the Browns, they want the division title, and they want revenge for a loss to the Browns earlier in the season. Give this one to the Ravens. RAVENS, 27-10
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers : The Steelers have been stumbling a bit lately, and the Bengals are good enough to exploit that. The Steelers will know if they have a chance at the divisional title when this game starts. If the Ravens win, how hard will they fight? They do have to compete with the Chargers for the fifth seed, so they won't slack off. STEELERS, 24-17
Sunday early games
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots : The Bills are the second seed. Bills QB Josh Allen will start and play the first drive, but we won't see him again (he's just starting to maintain his consecutive game record). Even with a slate of second teamers, the Bills might be able to beat the Patriots, especially with a stiff defensive effort. BILLS, 16-13
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons : As miniscule as it can be, the Falcons still have a slim shot at the playoffs, but they need a win and lots of help. That means they won't rest any of their starters, and that crew should be good enough to get past the Panthers, provided the Panthers defense doesn't five Pennix a hard time. FALCONS, 27-23
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers : The Packers want the sixth seed to prevent playing either Detroit or Minnesota, so they'll play hard. Given the Bears' woes, it wouldn't matter. PACK, 24-9
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans : Houston has the fourth seed, so they are likely to rest their starters. Now the question is whether the Titans will deliberately tank the game? Likely not. The Browns are likely to lose against the Ravens, and that will place them in the lead for the top draft pick unless the Giants utterly tank). TITANS, 13-10
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts : Neither team is playoff bound, so this is their last game. Everybody will want to play. The Colts have looked good in recent weeks, so I have to give them the edge to cap their season with a win. COLTS, 27-16
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Bucs : It's easy for the Bucs -- if they win, they win the division. Then they hope the Rams lose so they get the third seed. BUCS, 28-13
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles : The Eagles have some injuries issues, so how many players will they rest? Let's face it, they will be the second seed regardless of whether they win or lose, so this game won't matter. Then the question is, can the Giants beat a rag-tag squad of Eagles? I don't think the Giants will win, but it will be closer than expected, and should give the Browns the top pick in the draft. EAGLES, 17-13
Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys : The Commanders are in the playoffs, but they don't want to be the seventh seed. They need a win to stay ahead of the Pack, so they will play. This will be Zeke's last game with the Cowboys, so the Dallas fans would love for him to have a big game, but I don't see it. COMMANDERS, 27-17
Sunday late games
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos : Most of the Chiefs starters will rest, so the talented Broncos team gets a win. BRONCOS, 27-13
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders : The Chargers are in the playoffs. Now they want the fifth seed. They'll fight for it in Vegas. In this case, what happens in Vegas won't stay there, it will affect the entire AFC. CHARGERS, 17-13
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets : The Dolphins playoff hopes are microscopic. Doesn't mater. The Jets are a mess, so the Dolphins should win without the playoff incentive. DOLPHINS, 16-10
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals : The 49ers just can't get it together for divisional games this season. CARDINALS, 24-17
Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams : The Rams need a win to remain ahead of the Bucs, as they have a better conference record. The Rams want that third seed, so they will fight and fight hard. RAMS, 23-17
Sunday night
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions : The battle for the top seed in the NFC! Sam Darnold has done well with the Vikings, but it's their defense that has really kept them dominant. That defense faltered against Detroit earlier this season. I'm not sure it will hold up again, but that's the interesting thing with the second time that teams meet in a season -- they learned some habits in the first meeting. I favor the Lions, but this game, more than any other this week, could go the other way. LIONS, 31-27
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